Feb 1, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Terry Stotts takes over for head coach Rick Carlisle (not pictured) after Carlisle was ejected during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks 95-86. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

The NBA pre-season is moving closer and closer, and now that the Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching staff is finally at capacity, it’s time to pull the curtains and unveil the final product.

There’s not too much information available on every member, but here’s a quick, but in-depth run-down of the people who will be teaching, leading and developing this young Rip City squad for the foreseeable future.

1. Terry Stotts, Head Coach
Profile: Former Head Coach of Milwaukee Bucks (Fired in 2007), Former Assistant Coach for Dallas Mavericks (2008-2012),  Assistant Coach for Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics, Star Player on the CBA’s Montana Golden Nuggets (1980-1983), Current NBA Coaching Record is 116-168

Key Quotes:

“I think they are going to play an exciting brand of basketball,” Stotts said. “And the young players will improve. I think we will be better in April than in November. That will be the measuring stick. There’s not a player on this roster who is not going to try and make the playoffs this year … but my concern with this team, and especially the young players, is getting them better every day, and every month.” — Oregonian

“Yes I want to run. I want to shoot threes. And if we can score 100 points every night that’s great. But to be successful, you have to do it on both ends of the floor,” Stotts said. “I’m proud of what I can do offensively, and how I can help this team offensively, but make no mistake, I’m going to make sure the players know that defense is a priority.” — Oregonian

During his tenure as one of Rick Carlisle’s assistant coaches with the Dallas Mavericks, Terry Stotts rose up the ranks as an “offensive genius,” finding new ways to free up Dirk Nowitzki and re-vamping their offensive schemes during their championship run in 2011. Now the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Stotts will have to keep the Blazer offense pushing, while instilling defensive principles that won’t allow for a repeat of last season — Portland averaged 97.2 points per game (16th in the NBA), while allowing 97.8 points per game (18th in the NBA).

With likely the NBA’s youngest roster — 12 of the 15-man roster are 25-years old or younger — Coach Stotts has his work cut out for him. He’ll be starting two rookies in Damian Lillard and either Meyers Leonard or Joel Freeland at center, and he’s working with a far from complete roster, but any forward progress is upward mobility from Portland’s horrendous 28-38 finish last season.

Stotts has a ridiculous amount of endorsements ranging from Shareef Abdur-Rahim (bet you wouldn’t hear that name again) to his former boss, Rick Carlisle. We just have to remember that Rome wasn’t built overnight, and it’ll probably take a season, maybe two, before the Blazers start wreaking havoc in the Western Conference again.

2. Kaleb Canales, “Defensive Coordinator” 

APRIL. 11, 2011; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Kaleb Canales yells out to his team during the fourth quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Rose Garden. The Blazers won the game 118-110. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

Profile: Blazers Interim Head Coach (2012), Former Head Coach of Texas-Arlington, Blazers’ Summer League Head Coach (2012).

Key Quotes:

 ”Since he has such a good relationship with the players, that’s an asset that’s invaluable,” Stotts said of Canales. — Oregonian

Kaleb Canales was highly-regarded as the “in-house favorite” for the head coaching position, but ended up losing out as a finalist to Terry Stotts. What’s interesting is that general manager Neil Olshey had the two working together during their interviews in London, thus setting up chemistry for the situation the two face now.

The players love him, the front office loves him, and there’s no question he’ll be a head coach in the NBA sometime in the not-so distant future.

3. Jay Triano, Assistant Coach

Feb 2, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano questions a call during the game against the Atlanta Hawks in the first half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Raptors 100-87. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

Profile: Head Coach of Canadian Nation Team, Former Canadian Basketball Player, Former Head Coach of Toronto Raptors (2008-2011), Former Assistant Coach for Team USA (2008).

Jay Triano doesn’t have the best NBA track record — he’s 87-142 through two-and-a-half seasons with the Toronto Raptors — but his experience as an international basketball player and Olympic coach is more than enough to warrant him a seat at the table.

I don’t have much info on Triano, what offensive/defensive schemes he likes to run, or even what kind of coach he is. But I do know that he holds each and every player on his roster accountable for bringing their A-plus game and no less.

“I think gone are the days when you can throw 12 players out there and expect to compete, and I think my time with the United States team showed that,” Triano told the Toronto Globe & Mail. “Jerry Colangelo asked those players for a three-year commitment. When they did that and the players became committed, that’s when they became successful and won back-to-back gold medals.

4. Kim Hughes, “Big Man Specialist”
Profile: Averaged 15 Points and 11 Rebounds As a Senior At the University of Wisconsin, Drafted in the Third Round Pick No. 9 by the Buffalo Braves (1974), Averaged Eight Points and Nine Rebounds as a Rookie with the New York Nets, Named to First Team ABA All-Rookie Team, Interim Head Coach of Los Angeles Clippers (2010).

With the entire offense running through LaMarcus Aldridge, having an ex-big man like Kim Hughes on the coaching staff is an invaluable addition. Not only can he give L.A. tips and tricks to improve his game, but he can help speed up the development of Meyers Leonard and Joel Freeland, as well as help add towards J.J. Hickson’s clearly-lacking post game.

5. David Vanterpool, Assistant Coach “Will be working primarily with the guards”
Profile: All-Euroleague Second Team (2004), Former Washington Wizard (2001), Former Assistant Coach for CSKA Moscow, Italian Supercup MVP (2005)

This excerpt from CSNNW.com should be enough:

“Stotts ran into Vanterpool – a former 6-5 professional guard – five years ago while he was playing overseas ball for the European club CSKA Moscow. The coach at the time, Ettore Messina, told Stotts that Vanterpool would make a great coach some day. A year later, Vanterpool,39, attended an NBA coaching clinic in New Jersey in which Casey, Carlisle, and Stotts were present, as well. The two got reacquainted and apparently Vanterpool blew Stotts away with his coaching mind and work ethic. Vanterpool will be working primarily with the guards. ‘With his playing experience and being young enough to get out there and bang with them in practice, will really benefit our program,’ Stotts said. ‘He will work mainly with the development of our perimeter players and I’m happy to have him on board.’”

6. Dale Osbourne, Player Development
Profile: Former Head Coach of NBDL’s Tulsa 66ers, Utah Flash and Austin Toros, Former Assistant at South Alabama, Former Oklahoma City Thunder D-League Affiliate.

Key Quotes:

“I’m very excited about Dale joining our staff,” said Stotts. “His diverse coaching background and experience at the college and D-League level will be very valuable in the development of our younger players both on the court and off.” — RealGM

Now that we’ve fully introduced the official 2012 Rip City coaching staff, are you excited for this season?

Jay Triano will be one of Portland's newest assistant coaches. Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Terry Stotts’ coaching staff is starting to come together. As tends to happen when the main man gets replaced, the down the bench positions turn over as well. 2012-13 Blazers’ coaching staff may have at least one familiar face (probably Kaleb Canales) but that will probably be it.

Stotts has added three new names to the coaching roster. Maybe he’ll add more, maybe not.  Two of the three new hires have head coaching experience, which is good. I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of coaching going on over the course of the upcoming 82 games.

Here’s the press release:

HEAD COACH TERRY STOTTS ADDS THREE COACHES TO HIS STAFF
Assistants Jay Triano, David Vanterpool and Kim Hughes join the Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts has added Jay Triano, David Vanterpool and Kim Hughes to his coaching staff, the team announced today.

“Jay, David and Kim bring a wealth of experience as coaches, players and front office personnel,” said Stotts. “I have always had a lot of respect for their basketball knowledge and they will be very valuable additions to our staff.”

Triano, 53, joins the Trail Blazers from the Toronto Raptors, where he most recently held the position of Vice President of Pro Scouting after serving as the team’s head coach from 2008-11 (87-142, .380). The first Canadian born head coach in the NBA, Triano was previously an assistant in Toronto from 2002-08.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Triano served as the head coach for the Canadian men’s national team from 1998-2004 (52-42, .553) and later as an assistant for USA Basketball. A former captain of Team Canada who played collegiately at Simon Fraser University, Triano competed in three Olympics for his home country.

Vanterpool, 39, joins the Trail Blazers bench after spending the past two seasons as a pro scout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played for European power CSKA Moscow from 2005-07, winning a Euroleague title there before becoming an assistant coach with the club upon retirement. Vanterpool was also a member of the Trail Blazers’ 2010 NBA Summer League coaching staff.

Appearing in 22 games for the Washington Wizards in 2000-01, Vanterpool played collegiately at St. Bonaventure.

An assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers for seven seasons (2003-10), Hughes, 60, finished the final 33 games of the 2009-10 season as interim head coach. He spent the previous five seasons with the Denver Nuggets, where he served as director of scouting, director of player personnel and assistant coach. The Freeport, Ill., native and Wisconsin alum was also a scout for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Hughes is a six-year veteran of the ABA and NBA, playing for the New York/New Jersey Nets, Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers before finishing his career in Italy.

Triano, Vanterpool and Hughes join Kaleb Canales as assistants on Stotts’ staff.